One of the biggest issue surrounding a worker in Manila is that it’s very difficult for them to keep their professional and personal life separate.
Especially as women, we have accepted our fates as responsible breadwinners, burdened mothers, martyred wives and subservient employees.
Lagi na lang tayo kawawa (We are always the pitiful one).
If our family gets into trouble, the breadwinner would have to financially contribute if not pay for everything. The rule of the game is, he who is working must pay for his/her sibling’s education and the household expenses. Sucks to be the eldest responsible daughter if you ask me.
If you have a child(ren) and they get sick, it’s the woman who has to worry about who has to take the baby to the doctor. If they have problems in school, we’re the one who faces the principle.
If we are married, we worry about our husband’s vices be it alcohol, gambling or women. Woe is to a woman stuck with an irresponsible deadbeat husband who doesn’t give her the love and respect in the world and even dares to cheat on her.
What’s worse, despite working your butt off at work all day, you are greeted by a messy unkept house, dirty laundry and hungry kids when you get home.
There is really no rest for the weary.
Admittedly, it’s hard to be a woman. Because most of the time, being a woman means taking care of everyone AND everything.
You have to take care of your parents, your siblings, their families, your husband, your children, the household help and the chores. No wonder women are so exhausted at the end of the day!
That’s why, it becomes a problem when you have an office full of women.
Given that there’s a lot of burdens women carry on their shoulders both inside and out of the office, it’s inevitable there will be days that personal issues will creep into the office and affect one’s work.
Today is one of those days.
My office assistant took off at lunch to deal with a personal issue, leaving her work undone. She had to train and orient four new trainees, and because she left without too much warning, I had to cover for her.
I know it’s not a medical issue. It’s a family issue. And her personal issue is affecting her work.
So what do I do then?
Well, the best thing to do is to take it one day at a time.
I got myself into this issue, by allowing this to happen, but I know that I’ll come up with a solution in a month’s time. So instead of complaining about it, I’d keep my head up and stay optimistic.
Two, I will have a serious talk with my assistant tomorrow on what her priorities are. Our company has a 30-day notice period, so if her priorities lie elsewhere, I know o have to start preparing for Plan B.
Three, I will learn a lesson and not get myself into this muck again.
I now understand that my staff cannot separate her family and professional life and cannot be depended upon. If she can do this once, she can do it again.
Anyway, tomorrow is another day. If anything, it’s just another challenging day of being an entrepreneur.
Wish me luck that tomorrow will be a better day!
